Russell Crowe will be playing the vengeful Javert in the Les Miserables film.

The Robin Hood star is confirmed to take the role of the police inspector opposite Hugh Jackman as reformed prisoner Jean Valjean in Tom Hooper's big-screen adaptation of the stage musical.

The musical's producer Cameron Mackintosh, who will also be co-producing the movie, revealed he was thrilled by the "dream" cast.

"Even though I have dreamt about making the film for over 25 years, I could never have imagined that we would end up with the dream director Tom, and the dream cast of Hugh and Russell as the two great protagonists," he said in a statement.

"Not only were they born to play these roles vocally, but they thrillingly inhabit this great score.